What does Urban Meyer’s departure mean for UGA?
Mark Richt probably won't miss his annual Jacksonville meetings with Urban Meyer, but is the Florida coach quitting really good for UGA? (Brant Sanderlin / AJC)
As word spread Wednesday afternoon of Urban Meyer’s resignation and speculation began centering around Dan Mullen heading the list of potential replacements, I noted on Twitter and Facebook that I was unsure whether this turn of events was good for UGA or not.
The feedback I got from fellow Bulldogs fans pretty much ran along the lines of this being possibly good for Mark Richt’s program in the short-run, but not good long-term.
Here’s the thinking: No matter who takes over at Florida, there’ll be at least a year of transition, even if it’s Mullen, who has only been gone from the program a couple of years and is considered by many to have been the genius behind Meyer’s phenomenal success there as well as at Bowling Green and Utah, where he also worked was Meyer’s key assistant. Some recruits might get jittery and if FSU doesn’t scoop ’em all up, the Dogs could benefit there.
And with Richt facing what appears to be a make-or-break season in 2011, any rebooting on the part of the Gators, however shortlived, tends to look like a good thing. Pair that with Gus Malzahn’s likely promotion to the head coaching ranks somewhere and Auburn, also likely to lose Cam Newton, looks like another rival returning to beatable status.
But as Meyer noted, “Florida will always be Florida,” and this is likely to be just a hiccup for the Gator program, particularly if Mullen is the new hire. I mean, the guy managed to win in Starkville. Imagine what he can do with all the resources and recruiting advantages he’ll have at the U of F.
Under Meyer, the Gators were likely to have continued slipping slightly since after last December’s brief retirement he obviously no longer had the fire in the belly, and without Mullen and Tim Tebow he looked much less like a coaching genius. As one fan noted, now with a new coach they get new energy, new optimism and no more Steve Addazio as O-ccordinator. So, going forward, Georgia fans might end up missing Meyer more than you’d think.
As for Mullen, you’ve got to figure he’d jump at the chance to coach at Florida. Why stay in Starkville when you can have possibly the best coaching job in America? Yes, expectations are very high in Gainesville, where as Steve Spurrier has noted 10 wins are probably no longer enough to satisfy the fan base. But Mullen seems like a pretty confident guy and isn’t likely to be fazed by that.
Now, of course, Mullen might not be Jeremy Foley’s first choice. There’s been speculation he might take another run at Bob Stoops, though that would seem quite a longshot. And other names floated include another former Meyer assistant, Louisville’s Charlie Strong, along with Utah’s Kyle Whittingham and Arkansas’ Bobby Petrino. Some lists throw Boise State’s Chris Petersen and former NFL coach Jon Gruden into the mix as well.
But you’ve got to figure Mullen tops the list because, in addition to his Florida connections and looking like a perfect fit for the job, it also would remove him from the bank of potential rival coaches. The chances of him staying for the long haul in Starkville seem pretty slim. And if the top job were to come open in Athens after next season and Mullen hadn’t yet made a move from Mississippi State, he’d likely top Greg McGarity’s search list.
Personally, I’m hoping Richt turns things around and it doesn’t come to that. I like him as a person and as a coach, and I really don’t want the program to have to go through a coaching change.
But I’ve got to agree with those who say a re-energized Florida program minus a coach who’d lost his mojo doesn’t bode well for UGA’s prospects in Jacksonville and the SEC East. What do you think?
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216 comments Add your comment
Randy Marsh
December 9th, 2010
6:01 pm
Next year east predictions if Mullen takes the job: 1) UF 2)SC 3)UT 4) KY 5)UGA 6) Vandy
We need to get used to this order for years to come. It’s going to be frustrating to see Murray’s talent wasted over the next 3 years like AJ’s.
Einsteindawg
December 9th, 2010
6:07 pm
Olesouthgacoach, I’m not questioning your post, but if this is true, why do we lead the nation in arrests each year with the top 20-25 grads? Might this just be a flaw in our coaching?
Uhhhhh... yes...... I'm really a Gator fan
December 9th, 2010
6:08 pm
We Gators own you Dawgs. Next time you come to ATL we will own you again!.
Correction… next time you come to JAx.
irish dawg
December 9th, 2010
6:11 pm
GO DAWGS!!!!!
AFDawg
December 9th, 2010
6:21 pm
I hate to admit it — but as long as CMR and his band of rookie assistants (minus Grantham) are in Athens, the Dogs will never beat the Gators again. This year definitely proved this point. If ever there was a year UGA should have beat FLA — this was the year. Look at what a rebuilding team and Jimbo Fisher at FSU did against FLA this year. With the proper gameplan — UGA should have done the exact same thing. Please end the misery and bring in someone who knows how to utilize their talent, knows how to develop a sound gameplanand and make adjustments on-the-fly, and puts emphasis on all phases of the game (special teams, etc.).
James
December 9th, 2010
6:24 pm
Scout’s saying Fresh & Soph class transferring and they feel he lied as of last week about staying 4 years.
Opens up recuriting, transfers, that’s one thing.
Also, less competition for Richt for a few years, no matter who they get, they’ll need 2-3 years to get their system in with a bunch of new coaches.
Yes, Mullen makes the transition the smoothest, but I don’t see him as competition, hope they get him.
Dawgtime
December 9th, 2010
6:43 pm
Anybody wondering what Florida had to pay Mr. Newton out of high school to get the kid to Gatorland? I guess it just started in JUCO. Yeah right. Cam Newton leans to Miss State then all of a sudden selects Auburn for no apparent reason. Hmmmm. Daddy I want to go to Miss State. No son. You have to go to Auburn. Why dad? Because. yeah right.
PT
December 9th, 2010
7:12 pm
It doesn’t really matter. They always beat Georgia. Heck, they couldn’t beat Florida with Ron Zook at the controls.
Samanatha
December 9th, 2010
7:20 pm
Does not matter who is at Florida. Richt is done with the downturn. The downturn was part of the normal ebb and flow of college football. Rich will have UGA back in the top ten at least next year with or without Meyer. UGA beats Florida, wins the east, wins the SEC and finishes 5th. Increasingly we are hearing the Mark Richt is one of the finest coaches in college football.
Samanatha's Doctor
December 9th, 2010
7:23 pm
“Rich will have UGA back in the top ten at least next year with or without Meyer. UGA beats Florida, wins the east, wins the SEC and finishes 5th.”
Time for your medicine.
Maddawg
December 9th, 2010
7:26 pm
Bobby Petrino was actually Jeremy Foley’s number two choice behind Urban Meyer when Florida last had an opening. Makes you wonder if Foley will pursue him first this time.
GATA
December 9th, 2010
7:34 pm
I’d like to think the Dawgs can seize this opportunity to open up a family-size can of whoop a$$ on the gators for a year or 2 and get a “leg-up” on them, but I doubt it will happen. If UGA couldn’t beat them this year, what makes you think that will change regardless of the head coach. There is some kind of mojo going on that cannot be overcome. It defies X’s and O’s. Maybe it’s all between the ears.
nash
December 9th, 2010
8:29 pm
What I can take from this conversation is that Mullen is the man a Florida ( maybe ), and when Richt gets fired Strong should be next in line at Ga?
powerhouse?
December 9th, 2010
9:16 pm
Dogs really want to whip FL? Then send Rickt down there!
Boston
December 9th, 2010
9:25 pm
I agree but I do feel that UGA fans need a little faith. it seems that most of us are giving up hope already.
Ed (The Original)
December 9th, 2010
9:33 pm
When it comes to beating UF, let’s ask MSU and Ole Miss how they do it. Auburn, LSU and Alabama do it at least half the time. Maybe Georgia should move to the SEC West.
Samantha's Shrink
December 9th, 2010
9:36 pm
“Increasingly we are hearing the Mark Richt is one of the finest coaches in college football.”
Quit talking to the other patients. No sane person would say that about Richt.
rogeriter
December 9th, 2010
10:18 pm
I am posting this here because I can’t find another place to post it. I am a UGA fan but I keep seeing articles and posts from both UGA fans and Tech fans being critical of Tech kicker Scott Blairs FG miss in the Tech/UGA game. All I want to say is this: The only people who don’t make mistakes are people who don’t do anything! He is a darn good kicker who made an error. If you haven’t made errors then you are a do nothing!
King Gator
December 9th, 2010
10:47 pm
Mullen, Peterson, Kelley or Strong… Either way the Gators will continue to dominate the Dawgs! Go Gators!
Jay
December 9th, 2010
10:51 pm
Mullins was the genius behind Urban Warden..er Meyer. He comes to Florida and you get spanked again and again, just like you are used to! You Dawg fans think every year is going to be your national championship year but you haven’t even been close in decades! Wake up and realize that you are an average SEC team and will always have two to three losses despite your 5 star recruiting classes!
Brunswick Marsh Dawg
December 9th, 2010
10:59 pm
Bill – Listen to yourself…….are you scared of Florida?? Sounds like it to me. This is a microcosim of our problem with Florida. When in Jacksonville, they expect to win and we hope to win. This mentatity that you and many of our fans have has got to stop!!! We have our own problems to worry about and don’t need to focus on who the next coach at Flori-duh is. I don’t know why you don’t think we can have long term success against them. We have as good or better facilities as they do, we have all the fanancial resoures in the world with having one of the five most profitable athletic depts. in the country year in and year out, and have just as good as in state talent as Florida does. They just have more overall D-1 prospects due to way more population, but they also have to share it with more in-state schools. Bill please, for the love of God, quit spreading around through your blog this way of thinking!!! We should care less who they hire!!! GO DAWGS!!!
col fot
December 9th, 2010
11:13 pm
Meyer’s leaving means nothing. Georgia problems with Florida is probably more mental than anything, although Florida has so many great high schools to pick and choose their players from. Remember Florida has about 20 million people, Georgia around 10, and Florida can pick and choose from the best.Schools like South Carolina, Mississippi, Tennessee and Georgia just don’t have the numbers year end and year out like Florida
Samdawg
December 10th, 2010
2:06 am
Is there anyway we can get that Ga-Fla game out of Jacksonville?? I know there’s great tradition there and it’s a great time but, hey, we got to do something. Losing something like 18 out of 21…we need to start considering the fact that those games are all UF home games. Also, why, according to rivals.com, is UGA practically the only SEC team that hasnt extended an offer to Kelvin Benjamin…the 6′6″ receiver out of Fla?
dawgfan
December 10th, 2010
6:36 am
Techies, come out come out wherever you are. We know you’re on here hiding like cowards behind assumed names running your fat mouths. What are you afraid of Techies? Is the big bad UGA boogie man too scary for you? You idiots are as clear as glass and hands down the dunbest group of fans in college football. Thanks.
Bama Fan #2
December 10th, 2010
9:12 am
Florida will get a good coach but if Richt can not turn the dawgs around next year then
next year at this time we will be discussing who will the dawgs new coach!!! RTR
PonGT
December 10th, 2010
10:06 am
It means CMR is definitely on the hot seat next year. I still think UGA should have won the SEC EAST this year, simply because everyone else was down ( which is why SC won- they took advantage of the opportunity wherteas UGA piddled away a great chance to reset itself as the dominate force in the East). NOW COMES THE BEST SCENARIO UGA COULD POSSIBLY HOPE FOR. UF in transition year, as was UT, KY and Vandy this year. SC will not be any better (or worse) than they were …CMR HAS TO WIN the EAST in 2011 … or something is irreparable in Athens!
npgator
December 10th, 2010
11:07 am
Different coach same result.
Buckeye
December 10th, 2010
11:13 am
Does not matter. What Tressel ( a perenial top 5 coach) would say is we have to worry about our own work and preparation.
Bulldog59
December 10th, 2010
11:31 am
Foley should only have to make a maximum of 2 calls. (1) Dan Mullen, and if he say’s no, (2) Kyle Whittingham.
McDawg
December 10th, 2010
11:35 am
perhaps we can poach a couple of players but that is about it-we need O-Line and D-Line//Spurrier won all those games with outstanding Defenses –the resaon Cam Newton is making a huge impact is the outstanding O-Line at Auburn
Ed (The Original)
December 10th, 2010
11:40 am
“Mullins was the genius behind Urban Warden..er Meyer.”
I love football and played the sport for years, but anyone who uses the word “genius” to describe a football coach hasn’t been around too many.
Ed (The Original)
December 10th, 2010
11:51 am
“Florida will get a good coach but if Richt can not turn the dawgs around next year then
next year at this time we will be discussing who will the dawgs new coach!!! RTR”
Count on it, Bama Fan #2. Whatever mojo Richt had early on is long gone.
“Is there anyway we can get that Ga-Fla game out of Jacksonville?? I know there’s great tradition there and it’s a great time but, hey, we got to do something. Losing something like 18 out of 21…we need to start considering the fact that those games are all UF home games.”
You’re saying the same thing Gator fans where saying in the 80s, SamDawg. They use to complain that Jax was just South Georgia and that Georgia had an advantage playing the game each year on natural grass (Florida Field was artificial turf back then), blah blah blah.
The Mississippi State game was an actual home game for UF this year, and they lost. Same with LSU. I don’t think it would have mattered where they played FSU this year, a beatdown was coming. Georgia has lost 18 out of 21 to Florida because (1) they are in Georgia’s head; and (2) the last three coaches who replaced Dooley have been mediocre but 2 out of the 3 UF coaches during that same time period have been really good, and the other (Zook) was no worse than any of the 3 coaches we’ve had during that period. I thought Richt was different, but it now appears that he’s a mediocre coach who wins with superior talent. At least when his teams aren’t underachieving, which is often.
5150 P.O.A.D.
December 10th, 2010
12:03 pm
It means Richt and his staff are some of the few SEC coaches that can’t turn the Florida situation in a chance to get a raise.
Dagny
December 10th, 2010
12:42 pm
The dawg retards were losing to UF long before Urban Meyer went there, and they’ll keep losing long after he’s gone. The reason is Mark Richt, a third-rate coach and the biggest sleazebag in the SEC.
How long is it going to take for UGA fans to realize that UGA is simply no longer relevant in the SEC? In the national picture, UGA isn’t even a blip on the radar, and hasn’t been since the preseason #1 ranking two years ago.
Sit back and be grateful for the six or seven wins you’ll get every year. Coaching genius Mark Richt may take you to 8-4 or even 9-3 occasionally, but Florida or Bama or USC or LSU will still win the SEC, meaning no BCS bowls and no top 10 final ranking. Most years, UGA will be very lucky to finish in the top 50, and only after a big bowl win over a nobody opponent.
It’s a different world now, and Dawg fans need to adjust their expectations downward to reflect reality.
Unfortunately nothing is going to change until UGA changes its mediocre coaching. That’s where the difference is, and that’s why everyone outside Dawgtard Nation just laughs at Dawg fans getting so excited year after year about what a great recruiting class UGA gets. It doesn’t matter how many blue chip high school players go to UGA, they simply don’t get the coaching they would get at Florida or Alabama, to name two schools whose programs are far ahead of UGA. And that’s not going to change as long as Mark Richt is in Athens.
Get your heads out of the sand and face reality. And mediocrity and irrelevance.
Terry
December 10th, 2010
12:46 pm
I thought Richt was different, but it now appears that he’s a mediocre coach…
You’ve seen the light!
edumacated
December 10th, 2010
12:51 pm
The chances of a new coach having the same success as Meyer did at Florida are low. Ask Notre Dame, Nebraska, Alabama, USC, and Miami how hard it is to just “plug in” a coach into a great program.
edumacated
December 10th, 2010
12:55 pm
“mediocre coach who wins with superior talent”
That about sums it up when looking at Richt’s tenure at Georgia.
UGA Down the Crapper
December 10th, 2010
1:21 pm
IT MEANS RICHT IS HOPING MIAMI OR FLORIDA WILL GIVE HIM THAT CALL!!!
DON’T HOLD YOUR BREATH, MARKIE!!!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sportsrealist
December 10th, 2010
1:38 pm
@Ed (The Original) I think the UGA/FL game should be moved to a “neutral sight” like Augusta, GA…..that’s makes as much sense as it being in Jacksonville. I’ve never understood how that location could be considered neutral. Even with the large UGA fan base there. The FL student base can still get drunk at there frat house and have time to make it to the game before they pass out.
ApopkaDawg
December 10th, 2010
2:11 pm
Bill:
There are a couple of things to consider when looking at these coaching choices. Rumors are that the BullGator boosters are absolute hell to deal with. Apparently, the pressures put on the Florida head coach are truly unbelievable. Like Spurrier said, 10 wins just is’nt good enough any more. Take a 10,000 ft view of this situation. Penn St, long term coaching tenure. Boise St, long term coaching tenure. Fla St (up until recently), long term coaching tenure. Ohio St, long term coaching tenure. This list goes on and on. Florida has chewed through arguably two of the best college football coaches in the country in relatively short periods of time. Hell, CMR has been at UGA 10 years and we are only now putting him on the hot seat. As much as Gator fans and some talking heads want to believe that the UF coaching job is THE job to have. Quality of life may play a big factor in the new coach’s deicison.
Stoops – no way I would leave the comfort of Norman, OK for the meat grider in Gainesville. He just won the Big 12 again. He has job security at one of the most best programs in the country. Why leave? OU is going to match anything UF can throw at him. If I am Stoops, I pass on the UF job.
Peterson – same deal as Stoops. Granted UF would pay more money, but really how many millions do I need to make in Idaho? He can stay at Boise for life and take his shots at a BCS game every year with little to no pressure. Actually, he has a better shot at the BCS Championship staying where he is and not having to play in the SEC.
Whittingham – same as the two coaches above. Why leave?
Strong – yes, he may want to move to a bigger program, but he has tons of points built up with the Cardinals. Build on that and wait a couple of years and make his mistakes at Louisville, because Gainesville won’t put up with rookie head coaching mistakes.
and then there is Mullen…
Mullen is the right man for the job and he is in the right situation. I am sure that Mrs. Mullen and his kids are tired of shopping at the local Wal-Mart and going to the county fair for fun. He has proven he can compete in the SEC and he is a UF guy. His coaching career needs a shot in the arm like UF. Personally, I think he should take the UM job because he could take the talent he would get at UM, add his coaching talent, and walk away with the ACC Championship every year. He has history with UF and recruits well in the State. As much as Foley may hem and haw about other candidates, Mullen is the right guy for UF.
That being said, Mullen is the wrong guy at UF when it comes to UGA. Mullen will have an immediate impact at UF and they are relavent again in the SEC East. I think you are right Bill, any team in the SEC with a coaching vacancy would be knocking on Mullen’s door. If UGA were looking for a coach right now, Mullen would be on the top of the list.
Mullen = Good for UF, Bad for UGA
Gangster of love
December 10th, 2010
2:43 pm
Great post bass.
BallCoach
December 10th, 2010
3:13 pm
Simply put–it could help us some in recruiting.
5150 P.O.A.D
December 10th, 2010
3:20 pm
BALLCOACH
Keyword: COULD, but not WILL.
5150 P.O.A.D
December 10th, 2010
3:21 pm
Is CROWELL going to make his PICK after the Championship Game Tomorrow even if he isn’t playing in it?
Wiley
December 10th, 2010
3:59 pm
For sure, no school will be recruiting Mark Richt. No respectable school wants a coach who recruits illiterate gangbangers and then has to keep bailing them out of jail.
So not to worry, dawgtards, your sleazebag coach isn’t going anywhere.
And neither are you, except for 3rd-4th place in the SEC East.
UGA, winner of the Fulmer/Richt Cup and The Cesspool of the South.
ca dawg
December 10th, 2010
5:07 pm
wow i think dawg haters actually outnumber UGA fans here. i think it’s going to be mullen, and i think florida is going to be good again. we have to find a way to be better. nothing else to say.
john
December 10th, 2010
5:18 pm
The sec is on that vear stuff. Bring back Urk and run the power I.
Dr Morpheus
December 10th, 2010
5:52 pm
As noted by others, it’s astounding that we went 1-2 against Ron Zook. Why do we lose consistently to Florida? 1) Georgia has been intimidated by UF on the football field dating back to Spurrier. 2) They are always very talented. 3) They want to beat us more than any SEC team on their schedule. 4) We’ve had some bad luck (e.g., injuries to QB’s in 2 recent games we could have won). Factor 1 is the one that has to change. We could have changed it this year and fell flat. Naturally, Dawg fans are pessimistic. But, it could change in 2011. Or not.
Dr Morpheus
December 10th, 2010
5:57 pm
Oh, and 5) We’ve been out-coached on the field the years we should have won. The exception was the end-zone celebration game, which unfortunately had so much backlash, it only helped that year.
I said before this year’s game Murray was the guy that could lead the turnaround. He was nervous for the game and hurt us when he threw a pick on the first play; but, he’s a warrior and it’s still possible he could.
SatillaDawg
December 10th, 2010
7:56 pm
Go Dawgs!
Sic ‘Em!
Woof, Woof, Woof!